Australians have been warned to leave Lebanon after the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the deaths of two brothers in an air strike on the town of Bint Jbeil in the country’s south.
Australian citizen Ibrahim Bazzi, 27, was reportedly visiting his wife Shorouk Hammoud, ahead of the pair travelling Down Under to begin a new life together.
His brother, Ali Bazzi, 30, was with the couple when an air strike believed to be from Israel’s Defence Forces struck their home, killing them.
A DFAT spokesperson confirmed the deaths of the brothers, who were both Australian citizens, to SkyNews.com.au.
The spokesperson said the Australian Embassy in Beirut “stands ready to provide consular assistance to the family if required.”
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus issued a plea to any Australians in Lebanon as the risk of further conflict in the region escalates.
“There is daily military activity in southern Lebanon, including rocket and missile fire as well as airstrikes,” he said.
“For Australians in Lebanon we urge you to leave while commercial options remain available.”
Relatives of the brothers had earlier told the ABC they were in “shock” at the news, while one of Ms Hammoud’s cousins said her family was in “utter disbelief.”
Meanwhile, Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah claimed the elder Mr Bazzi was a “martyr on the road to Jerusalem,” the standard message published to mark the death of one of their fighters.
The militant group is listed as a terrorist organisation under Australian law and it is an offense to hold membership, provide support or funds, or participate in training or other activities tied to its operations.
Hezbollah did not claim or make reference to Ibrahim Bazzi, with family members living locally telling the Associated Press he was a civilian.
Pictures of a funeral procession in Bint Jbeil filed by the news agency also appeared to suggest the memorial was for a Hezbollah fighter and two civilians, presumed to be the brothers and Ms Hammoud.
On Hezbollah’s claims about the elder Mr Bazzi, Mr Dreyfus said DFAT was working to “establish the facts” before emphasising the group was a listed terrorist organisation.
Israel’s Defence Forces have not commented directly on the deaths, but said it struck a number of targets tied to Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah on the same night.
The IDF added it had been targeted by Hezbollah attacks nine times in the previous 24 hours.
More than 150 people have been reported dead in southern Lebanon since skirmishes between Hezbollah and the IDF began in October according to AP.
The majority have been militants and allied fighters, but there have also been at least 19 civilians killed.
(SKY NEWS)
